Head Start Hurt By Funding Cuts

Head Start, which provides free childcare to low-income families, began in 1965 as part of President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty initiatives. Today, Head Start serves hundreds of thousands of families across the United States.

In New York City, Head Start gives year-round childcare for about 6,000 babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, from birth to age four, with support for expectant mothers and family members. It also sets strict income limits to ensure the poorest households are served.

But with the loss of $78 million in federal funding in September, the program’s long-term future in the city is uncertain. Mayor Eric Adams’ administration has pledged to fill the funding gap for a year, until June 30, 2026, which will keep programs running in the short-term.

After that, advocates say families are left waiting anxiously for answers about whether their children will have a place to go.

Beyond childcare, Head Start sustains a workforce of New York educators, custodial staff and social workers. Advocates like Gregory Brender and Tara Gardner of the Day Care Council of New York stress that early childhood education sets children on a path of lifelong learning while providing stability for struggling families.

Gardner herself is a Head Start graduate, and she credits the program with shaping her own life and career. She warns that unless policymakers at the city, state, and federal levels commit to long-term investment, thousands of children and workers could miss out on a lifelong opportunity.

This interview ran on the What’s What Podcast from WFUV News on 10/7/25.